During the 2013 National Nadaam Festival two child jockeys died in unfortunate circumstances. This year additional regulations were put in place to protect the safety of children in the horse races but many international institutions believe this is not adequate. On July 19th the National Human Rights Convention of Mongolia expressed their objections and the UN Children’s Fund Mongolia also made a statement on the same day.

The statement read as follows: “However great the National Nadaam Festival is, having child jockeys race in the horse races puts their lives and health at risk. Although there isn’t any official data, international media and unofficial sources have suggested 24 children were injured while riding in races held between July 11th and 13th and UNICEF is deeply saddened and would like to express their condolences to the family of a 7 year old boy who passed away during the Tuv Aimag’s Jargalant Sum celebrations and the 9 year old boy who also passed away during the Arkhangai Aimag’s Ugiinuur Sum Nadaam festival. Even though the rules and regulations call for the minimum age to participate in horse racing to be 7 and for the rider to be insured and the standard for protective gear have been set, the injuries that occur to child jockeys during races is still a pressing issue.

There are 47 more horse races that have been planned to be organized through the nation. Therefore maters regarding the safety issues of child jockeys need to be taken under careful consideration. UNICEF takes this opportunity to remind the Government of Mongolia, and all communities around the country, that the use of children as jockeys for the purpose of making profit or entertainment is a violation of children’s right to protection from exploitation and harmful labor and places them in great danger. As a country which has joined the Convention of the Rights of the Child, conventions 182 and 138 on Child Labor of the International Labor Organization, and other international agreements, Mongolia need to follow international agreement rules and procedures and implement children’s full right through eliminating harmful child labor and taking under consideration the minimum working age.”